"TEKTITE PORTAL #1-2-11"
Glass
4" x 5 " x 4 1/4"

Simpson’s “Tektites” highlight the contrast between a smooth silvery iridescent interior with a rough, gnarly and charred exterior. He opens these rocky chunks into vessels, and the interiors glow like diamonds born of black coal. The “terrestrial-impact theory” states that a meteorite impact melts material from the Earth's surface and catapults it up to several hundred kilometers away from the impact site, which means that it must have travelled through space. The molten material cools and solidifies to glass. The “Portal” series combines Planets with the raw and gnarled glass surrounding Simpson’s “Tektites.”

Simpson’s motivation comes not only from his constant observations of his surroundings but from glass itself. “Glass is an alchemic blend of sand and metallic oxides combined with extraordinary, blinding heat. The result is a material that flows and drips like honey. When it's hot, glass is alive. It moves gracefully and inexorably in response to gravity and centrifugal force. It possesses an inner light and transcendent radiant heat that makes it simultaneously one of the most frustrating - and one of the most rewarding - materials to work with. I attempt to coax it; all it wants to do is drip on the floor. Most of my work reflects a compromise between me and the glass; the finished piece is the moment in time when we agree."

In 2006 Simpson was granted one of the greatest honors for a glass artist. Out of all the glass artists in the world, Tina Oldknow, Curator of Contemporary Glass at the world renown Corning Museum of Glass, selected Simpson to create the 1,000th paperweight for their prestigious, extensive collection. For this commission Josh launched into creating a 100 pound “Megaplanet.” This was not only a technical feat but had to be an aesthetic masterpiece. After 14 attempts, an artwork worthy of this honor was created and now rests with the Corning Museum’s permanent collection.

Simpson also had a vision “to inspire appreciation and curiosity about the Earth and the Cosmos” by leaving his smaller “Plants” here and there as he traveled, to be discovered sooner or later by the unwitting passerby to wonder what they had discovered. More recently, he has formalized the practice with his “Infinity Project,” sending globes to people who write to him with an interesting plan for where to plant them around the world to be discovered.

Simpson’s exhibit “Inner and Outer Space…the visionary landscapes of Josh Simpson” will open Friday, March 11, 2011 at our gallery reception 5 – 7 pm. The artist will be present at the reception.